Russellville teachers receive 25% off classroom supplies during nationwide event, August 1-3Staples is helping teachers with a Teacher Appreciation Event all weekend long August 1st through August 3rd at store locations nationwide. Most teachers spend more than $400 of their own money each year on supplies and materials for their classrooms. The Staples Teacher Appreciation Event will help teachers get the supplies their classrooms need such as pencils, glue sticks, tissues, art supplies, and more for less. “We know how hard teachers...

July 2014 Russellville business/construction permitsNew business licenses issued by the city of Russellville’s Community Development department for the month of July 2014, indicated by business name, location and type of business: • Rick Medina’s Tried and True Tattoo Co., 919 S. Arkansas, Russellville, tattoo and art gallery. • Just Like Home Senior Care, 3205 West Main Ste. 100, Russellville, daycare setting for adults. • Kelley D. Small dba (doing business as) Red Chair Salon, 815 East Parkw...

Pryor pitches jobs legislation LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor on Friday unveiled proposals to limit tax breaks for companies that move operations overseas and require publicly funded projects to use American-made steel and iron, touting a focus on jobs issues as he faces a tough re-election fight. The two-term lawmaker from Arkansas detailed a package of bills, dubbed the "American-Made Strong" legislation, that he said would boost job creation in Arkans...

Tyson Foods closing 3 plants in Iowa, NY, NM SPRINGDALE (AP) — Tyson Foods Inc. says it's closing three U.S. plants, employing a total 950 workers, which have struggled financially as the company's product needs have changed. Tyson, the biggest U.S. meat processor, announced Friday the planned closures of the plants in Cherokee, Iowa; Buffalo, New York; and Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The company said the action will enable it to move some of the operations and equipment at the plants to o...

Study: Nearly 1 in 3 kids live in poverty LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Nearly three out of 10 kids are living in poverty in Arkansas, but the number of children without health insurance has gone down, according to a national study released Tuesday that shows how children fare in each state. The 25th annual Kids Count report from the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked Arkansas 41st in 16 indicators across four areas: economic well-being, education, health and family and community. ...

Womack backs GOP's anti-Internet sales tax stance LITLTE ROCK (AP) — A Republican congressman from Arkansas who has advocated for legislation that would limit tax-free shopping online said Tuesday he agrees with a state GOP stance opposing any sales tax imposed by the federal government, saying he doesn't believe the two positions are in conflict. U.S. Rep. Steve Womack said he agrees the with the state GOP platform opposing any federal tax on Internet sales, approved at the state party's con...

Antique show rolls into southern Arkansas EL DORADO (AP) — An antique dealers group in Arkansas is hoping to make the southern part of the state a top destination for enthusiasts of the vintage goods. The El Dorado News-Times reported the Union County Antique Dealers Association will host a sale that starts Friday and ends Saturday. It will be at the El Dorado Conference Center. The event is part of an initiative to make El Dorado and southern Arkansas the go-to destination for antiqu...

Downtown parking deck neededThe consensus among business owners, Russellville residents and volunteers who want to make the downtown area a better place to shop and work agreed on one thing Wednesday — more parking is definitely needed, and it could be accomplished with a strategic plan that would start with a coordinated parking effort. Now, how much it will cost and how to pay for it become the next phases. The city’s parking committee met for a combined four-plus hour...

Kentucky town opens filling station to the public SOMERSET, Ky. (AP) — Somerset's city hall ventured into the retail gas business Saturday, opening a municipal-run filling station that supporters call a benefit for motorists and critics denounce as a taxpayer-supported swipe at the free market. The Somerset Fuel Center opened to the public selling regular unleaded gas for $3.36 a gallon, a bit lower than some nearby competitors. In the first three hours, about 75 customers fueled up at the no...

Hobby Lobby president shares plan for Bible museum FORT SMITH (AP) — The president of Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby says a Bible museum to hold his family's collection in Washington, D.C. is expected to open in 2017. The Times Record report that Steve Green spoke to some 600 attendants of the Fort Smith Mayor's Prayer Breakfast on Friday. The Christian Business Men's Committee invited him to speak at the event more than a year ago. Green says the museum will display his family's extensive co...

Minimum wage plan meets initial signature count LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A proposal to gradually raise Arkansas' minimum wage is one step closer to appearing on the November ballot after petitions for the measure passed an initial signature count. Secretary of State Mark Martin said Wednesday an initial count found that 64,000 signatures were submitted for the proposed initiated act backed by Give Arkansas a Raise Now. The group needs 62,507 signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ba...

Alcohol sales measure moves closer to ballot LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A proposal to allow alcohol sales in all Arkansas counties has moved closer toward appearing on the ballot, after election officials said petitions for the measure passed an initial signature count. The secretary of state's office on Wednesday said more than 84,000 signatures had been counted on petitions to put the proposal on the November ballot. That's more than the 78,133 needed to qualify. The office is now checking to ...

Murphy Oil to build new HQ in El Dorado EL DORADO (AP) — Construction is set to begin next month on Murphy Oil Corp.'s new headquarters in El Dorado. Several former law offices and an abandoned house will be demolished to make room for the 860,000-square-foot headquarters. A company spokeswoman says construction is expected to be complete in September 2015. The El Dorado News-Times reported the facility will include a two-story building with a lobby and general meeting rooms. That b...

Beebe takes part in groundbreaking in Conway CONWAY (AP) — Ground has been broken on a $130 million hospital that's to be built in Conway. Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe joined Conway Mayor Tab Townsell, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway Development Corporation President Brad Lacy and Baptist Health officials for Monday's groundbreaking for the Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway. Baptist Health of Little Rock announced plans for the hospital last November. It is expected to open in ...

IHOP celebrates 56th anniversaryOften referenced as the good old days, the era of the 1950s returned for a day at Russellville's IHOP on Tuesday. Staged as part of the franchise's 56th anniversary, 10 Golden Cakes Inc. IHOP locations across Arkansas relived the '50s. "It was easy to get everybody on-board for the theme and celebration," John Ebright, Russellville IHOP's general manager, said. "They wanted to do it. You know, they wear the same uniform all the time. It's a lo...